Many actors have playedSupermanover the years . The iconic character has flown through radio , television , and feature film . For all the keen actors who have had a probability to meet the character , just as many have arrive close . Some were even cast in the part only to have the chance err through their finger thanks to the capricious nature of Hollywood .

The same is true for Superman ’s greatest foe Lex Luthor . The case has confront off against the Man of Steel in most of his blind visual aspect , and many histrion come close to playing the evil Einstein .

Superman (Henry Cavill)

Henry Cavill is Superman now -and maybe for a while longer- but he had really missed out on the role before . Cavill had long sought the part of the Man of Steel and hadauditioned forSuperman Returnsin 2005 . He did n’t get the part but was an obvious campaigner when Zack Snyder was putting together what would becomeMan of Steel . Cavill has had a bumpy route as the character but it seems as though things might turning around for him and the dealership .

Lex Luthor (Ralph Fiennes)

betimes in the 2000s , JJ Abrams write a Superman script that never got off the undercoat . Superman : Flybywould have been directed by McG and hesought Ralph Fiennesfor the role of Lex Luthor . Fiennes would have been grand in the role . He locomote on to toy one of the big baddie of all metre as Voldemort in theHarry Potterseries . He would n’t have needed any makeup to bring a lot of threat to Luthor . Flybywas just one of many Superman movies that never took flight of stairs .

Superman (Christian Bale)

Christian Bale isone of the best actors to ever play Batman . He very nearly became one of the in force to play Superman .   Producers   sought the role player to toy Clark Kent inFlyby(just one of the many histrion who   were under thoughtfulness   for the office ) . Though pre - yield had commenced in Australia , the moving-picture show never acquire off the primer coat though and fans miss out on a great Superman . McG ultimately cast Bale as an grownup John Connor in his next picture show , Terminator : Salvation .

Lex Luthor (Adam Driver)

Director Zack Snyder was emphatically bet to go in a different counselling with Lex Luthor inBatman V Superman : Dawn of Justice . Jesse Eisenberg createda unique if controversial takeon the character . It ’s likely that Adam Driver would have done much the same .

Snyder considered Driverfor the part of the young technical school business leader . Adam Driver clear has what it have to playa complicated villainand would have lend his unique vigor to the use .

Superman (Will Smith)

Superman Returnsheld a lot of promise when it debut in 2006 . The motion-picture show finally stayed too closelipped to the Donner films to let it breathe . One place it could have really charted a raw course was cast Will Smith . Smith was offered the role early in pre - yield butturned it down(justone of the major roles he ’s passed on ) . Smith was loath to portray a traditionally ashen superhero after the chemical reaction to his portrayal of Jim West in the remaking ofWild Wild Westin the ' 90s .

Lex Luthor (Joaquin Phoenix)

Joaquin Phoenix makes for a slap-up villain , as seen from his award - winning performance inJoker . Though that pic isstill the guinea pig of some debate , there ’s minuscule incertitude that Phoenix would have made a good Lex Luthor as well . He was on theshortlist of role player turn over for the partinBatman V Superman : Dawn of Justice . Phoenix famously has flirted with a lot of comic script roles - Hulk and Doctor Strange among them - but he turn this one down as well .

Superman (Matt Bomer)

Despite his premature experience try out for the role , Henry Cavill was n’t the first or obvious choice for theMan Of Steel . The top choice for producers was say to be Matt Bomer , who also had experience in the part . Bomer had antecedently voiced the character in the animated movieSuperman : Unbound . Bomer look the part and has proven himself to be a good histrion in the roles he ’s taken on since . Bomer did n’t work out for the part and Cavill emerged victorious in the close .

Lex Luthor (Dustin Hoffman)

Gene Hackman made a great Lex Luthor in the original 1978Supermanfilm . He was n’t the first or obvious choice for the role , however . Christopher Reeve was an alien at the time but producers wanted a name for the baddie . One actor they had in mind was Dustin Hoffman .

The acclaimed histrion was in the midst ofan incredible run that includedAll The President ’s Men . Producers talked the part over with Hoffman but he ultimately lead on play the villain .

Superman (Nicholas Cage)

Few thespian issue forth as close to playing an image as Nicholas Cage did . John Cage was infamously roll as Superman in the propose Tim Burton filmSuperman Lives . This movie has along and complicated backstorythat include rewrites from Kevin Smith and Cage doing several screen mental test in different Superman costume concepts ( including an all - disastrous one ) . The movie fell apart before any of it was shot and fan never get to see what would have been one of the unwarranted takes on the part ever grow .

Lex Luthor (Robert Downey Jr.)

Robert Downey Jr. is now synonymous with the role of Iron Man and of course the MCU . He almost became a big part of the DC Universe back in 2002.Director McG sought the doer to play Lex LuthorinSuperman : Flyby . It ’s loose to see the appeal . The rattling livery and corporate genius of Tony Stark is n’t that far off at all from Lex Luthor and Downey would have kill in the role ( belike literally ) .   Robert Downey Jr. isall done with the MCUso maybe there ’s a chance in the time to come .

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